URGENT UPDATE: Optus has reported another significant network outage, raising serious concerns for emergency callers in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales (NSW). As of Wednesday afternoon, mobile data and voice services are down, stranding desperate callers attempting to reach emergency services.
According to Optus, the outage is due to a fibre break affecting customers in Port Stephens, Maitland, and surrounding areas. The company stated, “The ability to connect to triple zero may be impacted for some.” Technicians are currently on-site, working urgently to restore services as quickly as possible.
This latest incident comes just days after Optus executives faced intense scrutiny during a Senate inquiry regarding a previous outage in September that tragically contributed to the deaths of three individuals. Reports revealed that nearly 18 hours elapsed before the company informed the industry regulator and communications minister about the major service disruption, during which over 600 triple-zero calls were unable to connect. Initially, Optus misrepresented the severity of the situation to authorities, claiming only a handful of calls were affected.
In response to the growing backlash, Optus has committed to enhancing its emergency response capabilities. The company plans to hire 300 new staff for its Australian call centers, specifically focusing on improving the emergency network’s reliability. New regulations that took effect on Saturday mandate that telcos report triple-zero outages to the communications watchdog and emergency services in real-time, aiming to prevent future occurrences.
The implications of this outage are immediate and critical. With emergency services compromised, residents in affected areas are urged to seek alternative means of communication. As the situation develops, Optus is under immense pressure to rectify these failures and reassure the public of their commitment to reliable service.
Stay tuned for further updates as Optus works to resolve the current outage and restore normal operations.
